Coffee and Conclusions

by Emma Sterner-Radley

  “Pft. He wouldn’t dare hurt me. I’m pretty dangerous in my own right, and I’m sure Erin has told him what a vicious bitch my sister can be.”

  “I’m hanging up now,” Isabella growled.

  Marie laughed. “Okay, honey. Take care. We’ll talk soon. Love you loads and loads, Sis.”

  In a slightly embarrassed mutter, Isabella replied, “Te quiero.”

  She hung up the landline but kept staring at her BlackBerry and Erin’s message. It was mainly about Chris, but she kept staring at the ending.

  I can’t wait to see you again. You’re all I can think of. I’ve never been this happy before. Thank you for being in my life, Isabella.

  Isabella turned to Alberto, who was watching her from his baby bouncer. She sighed and smiled at him.

  “Is this what love is supposed to be like? This…pure and natural?”

  He answered with a single, “Hoo.”

  Chapter 22

  The Idea

  It was Friday morning. Erin was at the gym, offering pointers and encouragement to a regular client, Corrie, who was trying out the chest press machine. While Erin’s mouth was saying, “That’s it. One more, you can do it,” her brain kept pulling her off track, thinking about Isabella.

  How long had they known each other? Three months? It was strange. Somehow it felt like they had known each other a lifetime and as if they’d just met.

  “Are you listening to me?” Corrie asked.

  “Oh, sorry. I was miles away. What did you say?” The heat of a blush crept into Erin’s cheeks.

  “I was asking if you had a stroke. That smile did not look normal, young lady.”

  Erin laughed but put real sincerity into her apology. “No, just thinking about someone. I’m really sorry. I’ll get a grip.”

  “Well, he or she is very lucky. If you like the buff type, that is. I prefer a little more cushion for the pushin’. Now, am I doing this right?”

  Erin blinked a few times. “Um, yes. You might want to up the resistance, though.”

  “All right. You’re good at what you do. I hope you get to stay when the place changes management,” Corrie said.

  It felt like someone had slapped her. “Huh? Changes management?”

  “Yes. Haven’t you heard? Chris is selling up.”

  “What? I mean I knew he wanted a change but not that he was actually going to get rid of this place,” Erin replied.

  “Yep. He’s looking for buyers, but he’s being picky. Says he doesn’t want some big chain to take over. There’s enough of them around here. He wants to keep this place for everyone who isn’t a gym bunny.”

  Erin thought about the large group of retired boxers who met up at the gym every afternoon to chat and occasionally spar a bit. “Yeah. I see his point. This place should be kept the way it is, nice and laid-back, a little rough around the edges.”

  “That’s what he was saying. I’m sure they’ll keep all of you personal trainers on,” Corrie said. She started asking questions about the machine she was using, and Erin answered her. But her thoughts were whirring like tightly wound clockwork.

  Erin finished her lunch and decided to use her remaining time to look for Chris. She found him in the dingy little cupboard he called an office.

  “Hey, Er. How are you today?”

  “Doing good, thanks. What about you? I hear you’ve been talking to a certain Ms. Bowman since Isabella gave her your number?”

  He smiled, almost shyly. “Yeah. We’ve been on the phone to each other pretty much nonstop. Man, I’ve never met anyone like her. She’s like a force of nature.”

  He had this dreamy, sappy look on his face. She needed to snap him out of it. If she didn’t, they’d never get around to what she needed to talk about. “Glad to hear it, big fella. Yeah, it must be a big change for you.” She exhaled deeply. “I hear you’re looking to make another big change. With the gym?”

  He frowned. “Damn. Let me guess. Corrie told you? I was going to brief everyone tonight. I only told her this morning, because she caught me grinning and wouldn’t quit. Sorry you had to hear it from someone else first.”

  “It’s fine. Besides, her telling me about it might benefit us both.”

  “Really? How so?”

  Erin leaned against the wall, using its cool, firm texture to make herself feel less shaky about what she was about to say. “I have a proposal. Please don’t say no right away. Just give it some thought.”

  Chris looked increasingly perplexed. “Um, okay. Shoot.”

  “Is it true that you aren’t just taking the easy way out and selling to one of the big chains? You want someone who’ll love this place and keep it the way it is?”

  “Preferably. My uncle built this place from scratch, and I’d like it to stay like this in his honor. Besides, the people who use Nash’s Gym don’t want it to change, and I feel like I owe them something for being so loyal all these years.”

  “Chris, I really care about this gym and the people who use it. I am one of the people who use it. If you’d be willing to make a little less money and at a slower pace…maybe you could think about…maybe selling it to me? I could only pay a little at first, and then the rest in installments. And I couldn’t pay top dollar or anything, but I can guarantee the place would be loved and kept as it is.”

  He sat back in his creaking office chair and stared at Erin. Then he smiled. It looked like a smile of relief to Erin. “You know what? That sounds pretty good. That way, if my new life goes to hell, you’d probably let me come back and help out at the gym or start in your current line of business?”

  “Absolutely. I mean, I’m sure that you’d do great in whatever you decide to do, but if you change your mind, just come back. We could run this place together or something. I just want to get a chance to put down some roots, maybe save up a bit of money. I mean, I’m dating someone pretty seriously now, and, as you know, she’s got a kid.” Erin found herself licking her lips in her normal nervous tick and swallowing repeatedly. She forced herself to stop, relax, and continue talking. “I need to think about being responsible now. Get a nest egg and all that.”

  “Sure, that makes sense. If the two of you end up living together, you’ll have to make some changes.” He paused, chewing the inside of his cheek for a moment. “You know what? Selling to a friend I can trust is a lot more appealing than selling for a bigger wad of cash. Especially, as I’ve already got a decent job lined up in Philadelphia.”

  A warmth rose in her chest. Chris considered her a friend? She’d always just seen them as work acquaintances. Then she caught up with what he had just said. “You’ve already got a job? In Philly?”

  Chris blushed beetroot red. “Uh, yeah. I’ve been talking a lot to Marie the last couple of days. Turns out that she’s desperate for a security guy. She does all these gigs and classes, and sometimes people get a little too close and creepy when they want to talk to her afterward. She says she doesn’t have the budget or the desire to get a real security company in to help, so she just wants to hire someone strong and dependable to stay around her and make sure she’s safe and comfortable.”

  Erin tried to hide her smile. From what she had heard about Marie from Isabella, she wondered how much was true and how much was clever invention. She didn’t think that Marie was straight-up lying, maybe just exaggerating her need for security to get Chris to come to Philadelphia and spend lots of time with her, especially since Marie knew Chris was desperate for change.

  Nevertheless, it was a solution that would make everyone happy, so she wasn’t about to question it or, more importantly, make Chris question it.

  “That sounds like a great idea. You’re not, you know, gonna live with her too, are you? ’Cause that seems a bit premature.”

  Chris looked startled. “No, of course not! There’s a place that rents cheap but clean rooms just a block from
where Marie lives. I don’t really have any stuff I want to keep, except for some clothes, dad’s old punching bag, and my collection of baseball cards, so I don’t mind renting a room until I know if I’m staying and more money’s coming in.”

  Erin bit her lip. “So you’d be okay with me slowly paying off the cost of this place? It might take years. You gotta think this through, big guy.”

  “Sure, I will. We aren’t drawing up the contract today, are we?”

  “No, no. I’m not even sure this is a serious offer. It just sorta came to me when I heard you were selling and wanted a buyer who’d love the place. I still need to think about it, see what money I can scrape together, and talk to Isabella. I mean, this would tie me to New York, so she needs to know.”

  “Yeah. I bet she’ll tell you if it’s a dumb idea. Marie says that Isabella’s very honest and direct.” His grin told Erin that Marie might have elaborated on just how direct Isabella could be. Erin grinned back at him.

  “Hey, I hear your Philly chick can be pretty up front as well. So, we’ll think about this and run it past our clever brunettes before making any decisions?”

  Chris laughed, smiling at her conspiratorially. “Yep, we’ll discuss it with our new better halves.”

  She was about to go back out into the gym when Chris called her back.

  “Hey, how’s it going with the kid, by the way? You two getting along?”

  She leaned on the wall again and sucked her teeth before replying. “I think we made some progress. He played with my hair while he ate. It felt like a bit of a breakthrough to me. I felt…needed, you know? Like I was helping out with him and not just potentially screwing him up.”

  “That’s good. Look, I’m sorry if I scared you about dating moms when we first talked about it. Don’t let my concerns get in your way. You’re much more, well, maternal than I am. I don’t mean because you’re a woman, but just because you’re you. You’ll be great with him, I’m sure.”

  “I don’t think I’m very maternal at all. I’m still not ready to be part of raising a kid. I mean, I can’t even keep a cactus alive. How am I supposed to help care for a baby?”

  “You’re caring, responsible, and considerate. Sounds pretty maternal to me. Anyway, have you talked to Isabella about this?”

  “No, not really. I told her I was worried, but I kinda downplayed it, y’know? She’s being great, though. Trying to help and to make me feel comfortable around him. And I’ve gotta say, he’s an adorable kid. I just…don’t want to screw him up the way my childhood screwed me up.”

  Chris looked away and scratched his head. Erin had once told him she was an orphan, but nothing more.

  “Erin, I’m really not the person to talk to about difficult stuff like this, but it seems to me that you turned out pretty good, despite a shitty start. You being in his life doesn’t mean he’ll have a shitty start. In fact, I think it means the opposite. You had no parents, but if you build this relationship with Isabella, you’ll be giving him two parents instead of one.”

  “While we’re together, yeah. But what if we break up? I mean, Isabella is amazing. One day she’s gonna wake up and realize that I’m just…well, me. Then I’ll have to leave him. Leave them both. I don’t want him to feel left behind or unwanted. I’m not doing that to a kid. I can’t.”

  “So, stick around.” Chris supplied simply. “If you break up with Isabella—and I’m not saying you will, because you’re awesome too—but if you do, stay in Alberto’s life anyway. I’m sure Isabella wouldn’t cut you out if the two of you have a bond.”

  Erin took a breath. No, Isabella probably wouldn’t do that. Sure, she could be hotheaded and hard if she had to be, but never in a way that would have negative consequences for Alberto. If Alberto wanted Erin around, if it was in his best interests, Isabella would bend over backward to make it work, just like she was doing with Richard and their Skype chats and future visits.

  That could work.

  “I hadn’t thought about that. No, I don’t think she would.”

  Chris shrugged. “As I said, I don’t know much about this stuff. The person you need to have this discussion with is Isabella.”

  “Yeah. I just need to be ready for that discussion,” Erin said with a somber sigh. “Anyway, I better get back out there before my next client arrives. Thanks for the chat, Chris. Think about my offer, and we’ll talk it over with our…prettier halves.”

  She grinned at him, and he laughed.

  “Anytime. Let’s talk more tomorrow.”

  Erin nodded and walked away. Focusing on work would be even harder now. It had been difficult when she’d been daydreaming about Isabella. Now she was worrying about Alberto again and pondering the biggest financial decision of her life. She could only hope to keep it all at bay throughout the workday. She’d have no chance once she finished work. Well, what’s one more sleepless night?

  Chapter 23

  Date Night

  “Raspberry wine or power red?” Isabella waved two tubes of lipstick in front of Alberto as he sat in his bouncer, trying to get his opinion on which would go best with her deep-red dress. She liked talking to him, even if he didn’t answer back. Yet. And she happily used the excuse of bettering his language skills. He cooed and waved his arms excitedly.

  “Raspberry wine, it is. Good choice, cariño.”

  It was Saturday, and getting her look just right was important. Erin was due any second for their two o’ clock date. This day—or rather this night—was even more important than usual. It would be their first real date outside of the house.

  It was Isabella’s idea. After Erin dropped the bomb last night on Skype, about buying Chris’s gym, Isabella had decided that this life-changing decision was not something to be settled over a distant Internet connection. No, this needed to be discussed and celebrated over a proper meal in a nice restaurant.

  They would spend the afternoon at the house, playing with Alberto, letting him be the focus of attention. At six thirty, her father would come over to babysit for a couple of hours, while she and Erin went out for a meal and undisturbed conversation.

  The doorbell rang, as Isabella finished applying her lipstick. “Good timing,” she mumbled to Alberto and picked him up. She was practically running to the door and shaking poor Alberto, but her eagerness made it hard to slow down.

  When she opened the door, her heart did its usual somersault at seeing Erin, but something else hit her too. Erin wasn’t looking like she usually did.

  “A dress?”

  Erin rolled her eyes while smoothing down the front of her modest, black dress. “Yeah. You said we were going to some fancy restaurant, so I thought I’d look the part. I don’t have a suit, but I found two dresses in my closet. This one didn’t smell of mothballs. Not that I can keep up with your designer dresses and perfect hair, but…well, never mind.”

  “Please don’t put yourself down, preciosa. You look amazing. I mean, you always look amazing, and I love your usual attire. But it’s interesting to see a new style on you. However, I do think we should buy you a suit or tux at some point. You’d look amazing in one.”

  “Cool. Does that mean you and lil’ man are gonna stop blocking the door?” Erin joked.

  “Oh, right. Sorry, of course, come in.”

  As Erin walked passed her into the apartment, putting her backpack down on the table, Isabella sneaked in another appreciative look. Erin’s hair had been curled, and it hung loose. Isabella could smell whatever eau de toilette Erin always wore, and she felt giddy with the desire to strip Erin of everything but the perfume and take her to bed.

  A grin flew across Erin’s face. “You keep staring at me like that, and we might not make it to the restaurant tonight.”

  Isabella swallowed hard and tore her gaze away from the perfectly sculpted shoulders holding up thin dress straps. “Right. So, how was your journey?”
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  She was treated to a fresh, beaming grin. “I’ll tell you after I steal my hello kiss. Hold on to the baby, I’m coming in.”

  Erin walked over and carefully put her arms around them both. The kiss was gentle but soulful, and Isabella fought hard not to sigh with pleasure. She was starting to feel particularly girly and ridiculous, and she needed to get a grip.

  “Ow,” Erin yelped and pulled away. Alberto held a handful of blonde curls, pulling them to his mouth.

  “Alberto! Let go of Erin’s hair,” Isabella chided.

  “No, no. It’s okay. I’m the one who let him play with my hair. I’ll stand by that decision.”

  “Fine, but he needs to learn to be gentle at some point.”

  Erin waved the concern away. “Yeah, he will. For now, I’m just glad he found something about me he likes.”

  What was she thinking? Erin was struggling with Alberto, that much was clear. But why? “Do you really think that?”

  “I don’t know. I mean, he’s a baby, so there is only so much he can feel, right? I don’t think he hates me or anything.” Erin laughed, but it sounded forced to Isabella.

  She kept looking at her, searching for clues. Her arms were crossed over her chest as she cast wary glances at Alberto, as though frightened she’d offended him.

  Isabella waited until she caught Erin’s eye. “Babies respond to those who take care of their needs. You’ve only been around Alberto a few times, but on all those occasions you’ve brought him things he liked, helped with anything you could, and paid attention to what he might need or want. Neither he nor I could possibly ask for more.” Isabella caressed her cheek. When she spoke again, she made her voice as gentle as she could. “You’re doing a great job with him, and you’ll be even better with more experience. He likes you just fine, Erin. All of you, not just your hair. You’d know if he didn’t, trust me. You’d hear it.”

  Erin stared down at Alberto. He was playing with his fingers but looked up at her when he noticed her looking at him. Erin swallowed hard, blinked a few times, then smiled at him.